on a bench in the courtyard, under the shade of a maple tree, and answered. Alec remained standing in front of me, his arms crossed.
“Harvey? What’s wrong?”
“Hey, Eve.” It was way past midnight in Melbourne. His voice sounded hoarse, and heavy bags sagged under his eyes. “I really need to talk to you.”
“OK . . .” I waited, but he seemed to be struggling to get the words out.
“Just . . . uh . . . don’t freak out or anything.”
My spine straightened, and I threw a wary look in Alec’s direction.
Another more feminine, more sarcastic voice came through the phone. “For fuck’s sake. Just let me talk to her, human boy.”
My heart flew into my throat, and I sprang to my feet, gripping my phone tightly. I knew that voice.
“Harvey!” I yelled, my voice shaking. Alec was making a call, keeping his eyes on my screen but staying off camera. “Harvey, listen to me.”
At the same time, Harvey replied to Zara, “You asked me to talk to her. What the fuck . . .”
The video feed went shaky, as if they were fighting for the phone. Then a blinding flash of electricity cut across it, and the call cut out.
“Shit!” Hot, panicked tears stung my eyes. Did I just watch another friend die? Did Zara take another person from me, just as I got him back? “No! No no no.” I prodded my phone with shaky fingers.
“What do I do?” I turned my panicked gaze to Alec.
He tucked his phone into his pocket before placing both hands on my shoulders. “We’re going to call him back. She had him call for a reason, so they’ll take the call. I’ve already arranged for it to be traced. Take a deep breath.”
I nodded and tried, but it just made me hyperventilate more.
Before I could calm myself enough to call him back, Harvey’s name popped up on my screen again.
Another jolt of cold panic shot up my spine, and I gritted my teeth, making myself answer it. Alec stepped out of the camera’s way once more as Harvey’s face appeared, Zara’s right next to it.
“Harvey!” The panic in my voice was palpable. “Get away from her. She’s dangerous, do you hear me? She is not my friend. I don’t know what she’s told you, but—”
“Deep breath, Eve,” Harvey interrupted me, his eyes wide, his hand held out in front of him. “I’m OK.”
Zara rolled her eyes. “Would you chill the fuck out? What do you think I’m going to do?”
She leaned back heavily in Harvey’s computer chair, scowling. As if I was the one being unreasonable.
“Chill the fuck out?” I gritted my teeth, aware of the danger in angering an unhinged person, but my rage was rising fast. “You have Rick’s power. The same power that killed Beth. Remember Beth? Your friend? And now you’re holding my friend hostage, so excuse me for getting worried.”
“Yes, I fucking remember Beth!” she nearly yelled, and Harvey shushed her with a hand on her arm, checking over his shoulder. Why was he trying to hide the fact that a dangerous lunatic was in the house?
Zara took a very deep breath, visibly calming herself. “Eve, I need your help.”
I blinked slowly at my screen, waiting for the punch line to the sick joke she was clearly making before killing Harvey in front of my eyes.
She stayed silent, and when her eyes started darting about the room, it sunk in. “Holy shit, you’re serious.”
“Yes, I’m fucking serious. I made a mistake. I fucked up real bad, OK? And now my life’s in danger, and things are so much worse than you know.”
“I don’t care!” I screamed. The lecture I was supposed to be in must’ve finished. Students were streaming out of the building, a few throwing me curious looks.
“Eve, please, just hear us out.” Harvey’s voice was calm, and I tried my best to take my cue from him. I couldn’t risk her hanging up again.
As if he read my mind, Alec’s warm, calloused hand wrapped loosely around my forearm. I glanced over the top of my screen to see him holding up a thumb as he mouthed, Got her. I focused back on my phone as Alec pressed his earpiece and listened in.
“Harvey, I’m so sorry you got dragged into this,” I said, “but it’s going to be OK.” I chewed on my bottom lip, wary of revealing too much. Melior Group operatives were on their way, and I didn’t want to give her a chance